Automatic train-pipe coupling.



o. c. BLAIR. AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE GOUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED PEBJS, 1909.

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0. U. BLAIR.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE ooUTLING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16, 1909. 955 ,045, Patented Apr. 12, 191'0.

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UNITED ma FFQE.

OLJIVER C. BLAIR, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

AU'IiOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 12., 1.910.

Application filed February 16, 1909. Serial 110.478,25.

lings, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to improved couplings for air pipes employed in connection with an air brake system upon cars, and the objectA of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will automatically couple as the cars are connected together and which provides for the various inclinations of the car when rounding curves or for the slanting of the car body when passing uneven portions of the road bed without danger of the coupling heads becoming disconnected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coupling of the character set forth which may be easily disconnected from a coacting coupling, and said couplings being each provided with automatic pressure valves whereby the same will close and prevent the exit of air trom the air pipes.

With the above, and other objects in view, which will appear as the description progresses, the .invention .resides in the novel construction and arrangcnlent oi2 parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, accompanying this specification, there has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, but it is to be understood that l do not limit myself to the precise structural details therein exhibited, as various changes and modifications within the scope ot the invention may be resorted to if desired.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a side eleval tion of two sections ot' pipes constructed in accorda-nee with the present invention and illustratingl the same coupled and in applied position upon the cars. Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial central vertical longitudinal sectional view of a pair of the coupling tional view of the same.

members and their support. front elevation of the valve stem support. Fig. 4. is a central vertical longitudinal sec- Fig. 5- is a ltop Fig. 3 is aview upon the line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the lower member of the pipe support. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the valve seat. Fig. 9 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view of the valve seat. y

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the coupling head. Fig. 11 is a side elevation ot' the same.

ln the accompanying drawings the numerals 1 and'2 designate a pair of ears connected together through the medium ot' the' ordinary couplings 3 and 4.

Secured to the draft beams 5 ot the cars 1 and 2 are pipe supporting members 6. These members 6 comprise each an upper and a lower section 7 and 8. The upper section 7 is provided with a suitable flange having a plurality of openings adapted for the reception of bolts or other securing elements 9, by which this element is connecte-d with the draft beam or other portions of the car as desired. The upper member 7 has its upper face provided with an enlarged opening 10 terminating in a horizontal wall which is centrally provided with a reducedy bore 11 having its lower wall 12 provided with a further reduced opening communieating with the exterior ot' the base portion of' the member 7. 'lhe base member 7 has its under face also provided with a. pair of spaced arcuate slots having Vshaped upper walls. The lower member 8 is provided with arcuate V-shaped projections 12 adapt ed to engage within the walls of the arcuate slots or' the upper member 7, and this member@ is also provided with a centrally arranged vertically projecting stud 13 adapted to be positioned within the opening provided by the tioor 1Q. of the member 7 and to have its extremity threaded for the reception ot suitable nuts 14. interposed'between the nuts 14 and the ioor 12 and surrounding the projecting stud 13 is a helical cylindrical member 15 which isadapted to exert an outward pressure so as to force the lower member S into engagement with 'the upper member 7 thereby producing a yielding conneet-ion between the two members.

The lower member 8 is provided with a longitudinally extending, centrally arranged,

plan View of the upper member of the pipe l polygonal opening 16 which is adapted for support. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional' sie reception of a polygonal pipe member This member 1( extends a suit-able disroni each side ot' the support G and inner end, that is its end projecting "i the body/fof the car, rounded and led with both internal and external fore-ads. The internal threads are adapted r enffagement with a threaded nipple 18,

a flexible connection 19 is prooetween the pipe 17 and the main pipe t8/ of' the car. rihe external Athreads may be employ/*ed to receive a securing cap 20 provided with the usual flange which is adaptto bear against and tightly secure the ible pipe 19 upon the nipple 18, or if desired the flexible pipe 19 may be directly connected with the nipple 18. The opposite end o he polygonal pipe is provided with ai? enlarged head 21, and interposed between e head 21 and the lower member 8 is a, resilient member 22 which surrounds vvtending portion of -the pipe l? and is to torce the head 21 outwardly away i the support the outward pressure ,ai ig limited by suitable stops 23 provided upon the opposite end of the pipe 17. The sad 21 is preferably cylindrical and is cenf provided with an enlarged opening municating with the opening of the pipe 7, lThe walls of this opening are threaded or a suitable distance and are adapted. for the reception of a valve seat 24. The meniher comprising the valve seatI 2e has one of its faces provided with the valve seat proper and its opposite face, which is positioned suitable distance away from the valve seat proper, is provided with a transverse mem ber or bar 2G having its central portion enlarged and provided with an opening 2T which is adapted to support and guide .the forwardly projecting stem 28 of the valve 29. The numeral 30 designates the valve stem support. This support 30comprises a sleeve having annular oliset 31 which is adapted to abut. against the wall provided by the ened opening or the head 21 at its point of onunieation with the opening of the pipe The sleeve 30 projects a suitable distance within the bore of the pipe 17 and has inner tace provided with a transverse .onnecting 32 having a central opening adapted for the reception of the inner tem of the valve 29. Surrounding the t em e and interposed between the valve 29 .und the bar 82 is a resilient member 35 adapted to exert outward .pressure and to normally close the valve 29 npon the valve seat-25- Theface of the head 21 provided with .en outer abutment plate 36 which is cured 'to the head through the medium of sired manner, it however, being desirable to he threaded elements 37 or in any other dcwithin the head may be accessible tor repairs, etc, The'plate 36 is provided with a central opening which is adapted for the reception of resilient gasket 38. This gasket, as illustrated in Fig. of the drawings, comprises a substantial ring member having its perimeter provided with a continuous slot which is adapted to engage the edges ot the plate provided by the central annular cut away portion thereof. The heads 21 are provided with right-singularly arranged oppositely extending'inclined cuide lingers 39, which are adapted to guide the coacting heads into engagement with each other as the cars 1 and 2 are connected by the couplers 3 and 4i. f

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying -drawings it 'will he noted that l have provided a comparatively simple and inexpensive device for the purpose set forth, 'one which may be readily attached to any ordinary car and readily connected with the pipe system thereof, one which will automatically connect as the cars are brought together for coupling, one wherein the valves automatically close as the cars are parted, one in which the heads are guided toward each other, and one which allows for the various inclinations and curves of the rails without danger of the coupling members becoming disconnected.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new is:

l. The combination with pair of co-acting cars ot' flanged members secured upon the bottom ot said cars, said members being provided with a cent-ral opening and having a groove arranged concentric with said openin', a plate provided with projecting arcuate members engaging the groove, said plate being also provided with an upwardly extending stem having its eX- tremit'v threaded, a. nut upon the threaded extension, a resilient element between the nut and the flanged member and surrounding the projection, the plate being provided with a longitudinally extending non-circular opening, a non-circiilar pipe for the opening, headed members for each ofthe non-circular pipes, means for forcing 'the headed members away from the plate and teva-rd each other, and valves within the headed members adapted to be opened when the said heads are brought into contact with each other,

2. The combination with an air pipe con- .nection of the character described provided with a polygonal pipe of a yielding support by which the device is connected with the car, said connection comprising a pair of members, the lower member having a polygonal opening for the pipe and having its 10 spring upper face provided with arcuate V-shaped extensions and a central upwardly projecting stud, the upper member having arcuate slots having their heads V-shaped and adapted to `engage the arcuate projections of the lower member, said upper. member having a central opening adapted for the reception of the stud, an enlarged member upon the upper portion of the stud, and a between the head of the stud and l the lower wall provided by the opening of the upper member, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. j

In testimony whereof Il aflix my signature in presence of two' \\aiti1esses.

l oLivER e. BLAIR.

VVitneSSes STANLEY D. ANTHONY, J. A. MAHONEY. 

